Game Server Installer: Install a Game Server on Your VPS

Select your server’s operating system and the game above, adjust the name, slots or port if needed, and copy the command. On Linux, run it via SSH as root; on Windows, run it in PowerShell as an administrator. The script installs the game server, sets it to start automatically and launches it. On Linux, it runs as a Docker container; on Windows, a scheduled task starts it automatically at boot.

Yes. You can generate and copy the command without an account, then run it on your own server. You only need to sign in if you want to start a one-click installation directly on a ZAP-Hosting VPS.

Linux: Debian 12 or 13 and Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 (x86_64); the installer stops on other versions, but you can try anyway at your own risk with the --ignore-os option. Windows: Windows Server 2019 or newer with PowerShell 5.1. Games that do not support an operating system are not shown for it.

The command downloads a publicly viewable script from this domain. Under “Want to view or download the script first?” you can read or download it beforehand and see its SHA-256 checksum. Passwords and license keys are never included in the command: on Linux, the script generates passwords and saves them in instance.env (readable only by root); on Windows, it prompts for them without displaying them, reads them from an environment variable, or generates them. On Linux, it installs Docker from the official Docker repository if needed and stores the game files under /opt/zapx-gameservers. On Windows, it installs only under C:\ZapX-GameServers and runs the server under a dedicated user account without login rights.

The installer shows you which ports the selected game’s server uses. On Windows, the script opens exactly those ports in Windows Firewall. On Linux, Docker exposes only the game’s ports; the script itself does not change any firewall rules. You need to open these ports yourself in any firewall outside your server, such as one managed by your provider. For one-click installation on a ZAP-Hosting VPS, we open the ports in the VPS firewall if you have permission to manage it. You can check whether a port is reachable from outside with the port checker.

It depends on the game: after you select one, the installer shows the recommended RAM and required disk space. The script checks that there’s enough RAM and free disk space before setting up the game and stops if there isn’t. You can try anyway at your own risk with --ignore-requirements (Linux) or -IgnoreRequirements (Windows). For one-click installation, the dialog checks this beforehand. The Minecraft RAM calculator can also help you with Minecraft.

Yes. The same command or the update script in the server folder updates the server while preserving save files and generated passwords. On Windows, configuration files are also left unchanged. The installer provides ready-to-use commands for Backup, restore, and uninstall. Backups are stored under /opt/zapx-gameservers/_backups (Linux) or C:\ZapX-GameServers\_backups (Windows) and remain after uninstallation. If you uninstall using the “Keep save files and settings” option, your data stays on the server.

Yes, if you’re signed in and the VPS is running. Instead of copying the command, you can start the installation with one click. We run the same installer on your VPS and show its progress live. You can find the result, including the address, ports, and helper commands, later under “Installations” in your VPS’s Tools tab. For Don't Starve Together, the dialog asks for the cluster token from your Klei account. American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2 need files from your game client for the first installation: use the command with the -PackagesDir option for these.